Grain-separator.



F. A. WEGNER.

GRAiN SEPARATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAYZI. ms.

Patented Oct. 1, 1918 LQQQQB 4 SHEETSSHEET m: NONRV'S PETERS c1: mmmumu. WASHINGTON. av c.

F. A. WEGNER.

GRAIN SEPARATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY2I. I915.

I 1,289,600; Patented Oct. 1, 1918 4 SHEETISSHEET 2.

awmutoz "FFA. WEGNER.

GRAIN SEPARATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 21. I915.

1. 280,,600. I Patented 001;. 1, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3- wi WMMZOI I I wMg-dm/ m WOW.

Patented. Oct. 1, 1918.

m m w 5 4 S,HEETSSHEET 4.

1 ous'conditionsl r FREDERICK-YA. wr sivna, or BiJ'EFAL O NEW; YORK V To allwhom it may concern: r I l Be it known that I, FREDERICK A. WEG: mm, a citizenof the United States, residing at YBul'i'alo, in the county ofErie and State of NeW-York, have invented certain new" and useful Improvements in Gr-raln-Se'para-v tors, of which the following is a specification, reference being had :therein' to, the; ad: companying drawings :1: s12" This invention relates to grain separators,

r and has reference more particularly tosuch 1 these conditions most of the air is directed at a point nearthe-central portion of the screens orother supporting surfaces for "the grain-and a comparatively small amount' of the air is delivered at the sides thereof, so

that a large part ofthe.materialfbeing separated derivesjbut littlebenefit from the resultant efi'ect'of the air blasts or 'ciirrentsi It is,"therefore, the primaryobject of this inventionto'provide means whereby the air delivered below the separating-screens and directed upwardly through the mass of ma;

terial to be- :separated, may bacontrolled T to bring about an even and effective distribu-') tion of the air beneath the; entirescreen sur-" faces; on as maybemore broadlystated, to bring aboutthis even distribution of air regardless of the manner in which the air is delivered to the material being treated.

A further object of the invention 'is the provision of a plurality of air regulating devices, each independently controlled for the purpose ofcvaryi'ng: the air supply at any desiredlpoint within, the apparatus, thus allowing for'the control ofair to suit vari-t The invention can' be" embodied in diffenv ent forms, -some of which arelillustrated, an'dfto the accomplishment ofthe foregoing and suchwother objects asmay hereinafter appear, the invention: consistsiin the features I y Application filed May21, 1915, Serial No. 29,687 I taken on line-5-5 ofsaidfigurey, 1

GRAIN-SEPARATOR. V I

i Specincation'bf Izetters' Patents Oct, 1918f;

and combination of parts hereinafter more particularly described and claimed, reference being had ,tothe accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure l is a vertical sectional .viewof the apparatus embodyingmy, invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation thereof, partly in, section, saidlsection being taken on the line2-V2ofFig.1;@' .o t Fig. 3-is a detail vi'e ofthefan; 1 Fig. f is avertical sectional viewio-fthe separator embodying certain modifications of the air regulating means, and the grain. supporting surfaces I q I, li1gx'5 1savert1calsect1onal-viewof'the separator shown in Fig; 4, said section being r :Fig, 6 is adetailsectional view ofla Qdi-t fied form of certa n of thegrain supporting surfaces, said supporting surfaces beingca-x pable of adjustment to change their inclination, and the'partitions carriedgby saidjsupe porting surfaces being madeliextensible to allow for said adjustment. i

Fig. 7 is a detail'perspective vie vio f one rofuthe grain supporting. surfaces and its extensible partitions, and v vr ,Fig, 8 is a detail perspective view ofthe grain discharge, chutes; shown lI1J-IB lg- 6L Referring to "the drawings, 1 denotes a suitable frameupon which the various'parts of the separator are supported, the same containing in the present instanceia Shaking shoe 2, suspended by'means of metal straps 3 from the'side: frames of th sup: porting structure. Thisshoe .is provided with the desired number of inclined jsieves or screens, asv usualyand theshoe carrying such screens 1s adaptedtojbe reciprocated or shaken byany su table means such for o instance as theeccentrics 5 mounted on an eccentric shaft 6 1ournaled upon oneof'the side frames, actuating arms}? being-pro vided forconnecting the eccentrics with the side of the shoe.

The inaterial to be, separated is fed screensifrom ahopper 8 bymeans of ,the'

feed roller 9, the grain being first delivered togan inclined perforated table 10,- thepurpose ofwhich isto separate from the grain,

such aswhea't and oats, any foreign matter which might'be contained therein, such'for eign matter beingcarried by gravity to the lower edge of theinclined table anddis- -,chargedinto a chut'e 11, in the usual way, The-grain passesthrough the perforations in due to the shaking motion imparted to said shoe, and also from the fact that air currents are directed upwardly through the mass of material supported by the screens carried by the shoe, a suitable fan 12 being used for supplying the air for this purpose.

Due to this agitation of the material the lighter grain, such for instance as oats, is lifted to the top of the mass supported by each shaking screen, 'while'the heavier grain will gravitate to the bottom, thus stratifying the mass of material and allowing the wheat or heavier and smaller grain, and any of the lighter grain which might be carried along with the wheat, to pass through the meshes of the screen to the next screen below, where such material is subjected to a further and like treatment. After such successive treatment of the grain upon the series of shaking screens the Wheat or heavier grain is finally conveyed to a chute 13, from where the same is delivered to a suitable bin or-other receptac'le. The oats or lighter material is carried over the lower end of each shaking screen and delivered finally into achute l4.

7 which discharges said material into any suitable storage bin.

Hereto-fore in the separation of grain wherein air has been directed through the mass of material to assistin the separation, no effective means has'been provided for the control of this air. In the present instance perfect control of air is provided for, and furthermore, the regulating devices to be hereinafter more fully set forth, may be so operated as 'to permit the proper amount of air to be directed over and through the entire mass of material supported by the shaking screens. To accomplish this end the fan casing 15 is sultably extended in an upward direction to cover or suitably inclose the rear end of the shaking shoe, forming an air trunk 16 for directingthe air between' the series of shaking screens. Suitable valves or other air regulatmg devlces are prov ded, as

indicated at 17, for controlling the amount The tubular arms are perforated along their sides, as indicated at 19, through which perforations alr may be directed 111 an upward direction through the mass of material being separated. An angular valve plate 20 is adapted to cooperate with each tubular arm, said valve plate having perforations 21, similar to the perforations 19, in the arms, and adapted to register therewith in certain positions of the valve plate. Each one ofthe valve plates is independently operated. and as will be obvious the amount of air tobe deliveredby each tubulararm may be varied by adjusting the valve plates .to change the effective size of the air discharge perforations insaid arms lit is also to be noted that the air discharge perforations in any one arm may be entirely closed by its valve plate if conditions are such that this is necessary; a

Ithas been found that with the usual and ordinary type of fan a greater amount of air is delivered to the central portion of the screen, so that the mass of material sup ported upon the screens at the sides thereof, does not receive the proper amount of air to effect a perfect separation. By the means and devices just described, however, theair delivered by the fan can be controlled in an efiective manner and an even and equal distribution of air to the entire mass of material can be provided.

The fan 12 is provided with relatively narrow blades 12 of a length approximately "the width of the screens, and these blades have centrally located cut-out portions 12 at their outer edges, whereby a better distribution of air across the entire width of the screens or other grain supporting surfaces is maintained, than can be accomplished by a fan of the ordinary or usual type.

Referring particularly to the structure shown in Figs. 4t and 5 of the drawings, it will be noted thathorizontal grain support ing plates'22 are provided, serving as baffles'for directing the air in a proper and efficient manner to the screens, and vertical partitions 23' are arranged between these battle plates and the screens. In this mannor a plurality of air channels beneath each screen are provided and the air passing through each one of these channels is in'de pendently controlled by means .of valves 24, located at the entrance to each channel, thus allowing for a complete control of the air whereby an even distribution thereof beneath the screen surfacesma-y :be effected. Vertical partitions 25 may also be provided, as indicated, so that a series of .air channels are arranged below the shaking shoe, these channels being similar in all respects to the channels between the screens carried by said shoe. Valves or other adjustable control devices 26 are located at the entrance to each one of these channels and for a purpose as a'bove setfforth' in' connection withithe valves 24, itbeing noted tha't 'each set-of ,aii 'con trol devices is adapted-to'be'independently adjusted as desired." ,1 l

' Instead of having a fanjand' 'fancasing located as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the draw- 1 in'gs, afan or blower, may be arranged1in any other desired 'po'sitionfand the an; at

livered [thereby carriedto the separator tlirougha suitable air trunk as in'dicatedat 27,1111 Fig. 4 of the drawings.

In the modified constructionshown fin Figs. 6 and 7 grain supportingfplates 28' are provided, said 'plates"beingpivotedat '29 ti? the screens 4:. These -plates 28 are normally inclined in a downward direction from their pivotal points, sothat; the heavier grain supported by each plate may; be directed downwardly into the horizontally arranged chutes 30, one of said cliiitesBO being prQ videdifor' each grain supporting ,pla'te'2 8'; The grain delivered to these. chutes is directed through short, horizontal pip-essea m which, discharge egm n intea vertical pipe or tubular shaft 32, locatedat one end of 'said' chutes. [This .verticalpipe may deliver thegrainintofany suitable bin or other receptacle, It is, of pars be h str jus fl ri e as magensupporting plates 28 being pivotallyiniounb ed, as abovev set forth, said platesjmay adjusted tof change the inclination thereof partitions are made' up an con ecte ogether! inl a nn to suit conditions, and toiallowl iu tm nt h v iti i lip rfit sl pared by the plates are madeeXtensibl T as to have sliding nga em goq with the other in a T vvertical direction f-for varying the height of said partition, a spring Babeing provided for normallymaintaining said sections in extendedposition with the upper edge of the section 84 in direct contact with the underside of, the plate 28 above it. The

section 38 of each partition isfixed t o plate 28 as clearly shown in Fig. 7 of'th drawing, and the section 34: thereof which is slidably connected to the section 33 is adapted to adjust itself to the supporting plate or surface directly above 1t. That 1s to say,

- suppontingplate upon which the partition is mounted. It will thereforefbe seen that the partitions which constitute the side walls of the "air channels heretoforereferred to, adapt themselves to the varying space betweenladjacent supporting plates, and that said channels at their sides are completely closed atall times. 7 1.

'Whi'le I have shown and "describedJin some detail a specific embodiment ofthe inentiomw u adapted for performing 1 the function herein set forth, it willbe apparent that-many changes in details of construction might be made without departure from the spirit of my1invention and within the sco e of the appended claims; Iclaimzr r 1." In" a grain separator, a plurality of shaking screens, means for supplying grain thereto, lneansfor subjecting the material supported by said screens to the'action of air currents, and a plurality of independntly adjusted devices for controlling the air currentsdelivered to each screen.

'2. In a grain separator, a shaking shoe provided with {a plurality of sieves or screens','means for causing the material'supported by 'saidscreens to be subject to upwardly directed air currents, and a plurality of independently -adjusted devices for controlling the air'lc urrents delivered to each In a grain separator, a shaking shoe providedfwitl1 sieves or screens, means for subj ctingfthe material supported by said screens -to the action of air currents, a series of airichannels between each two'adjacent screens, and an independent means for 'con-' t iollingthe airpas sing through each chan ism 'ajgr ain separator, a shaking shoe PFQViEQ Q-Wfihci i i fi cre a f the; 'niate rial supported by" said screens to the action air current's,a series of fair 1 channels between each two adj acent screens, andjinean'sl'ocated "at the entrance preach cliaiinel for controlling the'air pass ia i eretla n iil th ev s Person s, mea f o si l i l he mat r l upport y j i 's'cre .toth'e a'cti'on of air currents, a series o-f' airchannels" between each two adjacent screens, and independently operated valves for controlling the air'passing through said channels. I I

6. In a grain separator, a shakingshoe provided with sieves or screens, means for subjecting the materialsupported by said 7 screens to the actlon of air currents, a series anner, 7 a shaking j shoe &

of air channels betweeneach two adjacent screens, and valves pivoted at the entrance to each channel and adapted, tobe i ndee pendently adjustedfor controllingj the air passing through said; channels; j

7. In a grain separator, a. shaking shoe provided withsieves 0r screens jmeanafor causing air to be directed upwardly through the mass of material supported. by j the screens, a series of vertical p'artitionsarranged beneath the shoe for dividing this space into a number ofair. channels, and independently operated valves for control ling the airdelivered to each channel.

8. In a grain separator, .a shaking shoe providedwith sieves or screens, means-for subjecting the material. supported by 1 said screens to the action of air currents, a series of vertical partitions arranged between each two adjacent screens, andindependently op erated valves for controlling the air. delivered to each channel. 7 f.

9. In a grain separator, a shaking shoe provided with sieves or screens, meansfor subjecting. the material supported by. said screens tothe action of air blasts, a baffle plate arranged between each twoadjacent screens for deflecting the. air inan upward direction against the screens, .a series of vertical partitions carried by saidbaflie plates and dividing the space between the screens into a numberof air channels, and means for independently controlling the air supplied to each channel.

10. In agrain separator, agsh oe provided with sievesor screens, n1eansffor shaking said shoe in a direction at right angles to the direction of flow of material upon the sieves or screens, means for subjecting the material supported by each screen; to the action of air currents, .anda plurality. ofindependently adjusted devices for controlling the air currents delivered to each screen.

11. In a grain separator, a, shoe provided With inclined grain supporting surfaces, means for shakingsaid shoe in a direction at right angles to the direction of flow of the material supported by said inclinedsur faces, means for subjecting the material. to the action of air currents, audit-plurality of independently adjusted devices forcon trolling the air currents delivered to each supportingsurface. I p

12. In a grain separator, shaking shoe provided with a plurality of'inclined grain supporting surfaces, means for subjecting the material supported by'saidsurfaces to the action of air currents, a'nda plurality of independently adjusted devices for con trolling the air currents delivered to each supporting; surface.

13. In a grain separator, a shaking shoe provided with a plurality of inclined grain supportingsurfaces, means for adjusting the inclination of said surfaces, means for subjecting the. material supported by said surfaces to the action of air currents, and a plurality of independently adjusted devices for controlling the air currents dBIi'VGIBdtO each supporting surface.

. 1a. ,In a grain separator, a shaking shoe provided with sieves or screens, and means for subjecting the material supported by said screensv to the action of air currents, said means comprising afan having relatively narrow blades of ;a length substantially the width of the screens, said blades having centrally located cut-out portionsat their outer edges, whereby an even distribution of air is delivered to the mass ofmaterial supported by said screens.

1 5.yIn agrain separator, a shaking shoe provided with inclined grain supporting surfaces, means for adjusting the inclination ofsaid surfaces, vertically arranged extensible partitions carried by said supporting surfaces, means for maintaining said partitions in extended positionaccording to the adjustment of the supporting surfaces, and means for subjecting the ma? terial supported by said surfaces to the ac-. tion of. air currents.

16., In a .grainseparator, a shaking shoe providedwith inclined grain supporting surfaces, means for adjusting the inclination of said surfaces, adjustable partitions carried by said supporting surfaces, and means for subjecting the material supported by said surfaces to the action of air currents. V

17. In a grain separator, a shaking shoe provided with inclined grain supporting surfaces, means foradjusting the inclina tion of said surfaces, extensible partitions carried by said supporting surfaces, a spring for normally holding the partitions .in extended positionaccording to the adjustment of the supporting surfaces, and means for subjecting the material supported bysaid surfaces to the action of'air currents.

.1 In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in, presence of two Witneses. v j v REDERICK A. VVEGNER. Witnesses l f HELEN N. RAMSEY, a A. E. HUTCHINSON.

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